The Kanoe motion-sensitive baby hammock provides infants with a gentle, 3-dimensional swaying and bouncing motion known to be highly beneficial to a child's development, happiness, and well-being.
Parents have always known that babies love to be cradled, rocked and bounced. Now we know that babies need cradling and motion for healthy development. The Kanoe reacts to your child's subtle movements, providing a safe and comforting place where babies can rest better and sleep more soundly, or where they can just enjoy the calming bounce and sway of the hammock. The Kanoe will comfort, delight, and move your child into a happier, healthier life.
The Kanoe is a 100% organic cotton hammock with a unique canoe shape that safely cradles and comforts a baby. A specialized weight-calibrated hanging assembly enables the hammock to bounce and sway in response to the baby's movement, mimicking the sensation of being held and rocked by the parent. The hammock can also be bounced and rocked by hand, producing an enhanced level of motion that is effective in soothing and calming restless babies. The smooth response and ceiling-mount system of the Kanoe combine to provide an exceptional range of motion. Even the smallest children easily learn to create soothing, joyful movements.
Adjustable straps extend above the hammock and attach to the bottom ring of the specialized spring assembly. The entire assembly attaches to an eye ring bolt which can be screwed into any solid structure, such as a ceiling joist or beam. These can be safely detected with the use of an inexpensive stud sensor available from most hardware stores. The Kanoe can be relocated anywhere around the home by simply unhooking it from one eye ring bolt and hooking it to one that has been installed elsewhere.
All the straps are adjustable for ceiling height and can be set to create a tilt for babies with reflux or colic.
As children get older, the spring can be removed and the Kanoe lowered so that it hangs just above the ground. They can then climb safely in and out, using the hammock as a comforting place to sit and play.
The Kanoe is quick and easy to transport, rolling up in to a bag made of the same fabric. A second eye ring bolt and detailed installation instructions come with every Kanoe.
FAQ
How old can a child be to use the Kanoe? How much weight can the Kanoe support?
In general, we recommend the Kanoe for newborns and children up to 2 years of age. This will of course depend on the weight of the child. The spring is most responsive for children weighing between 4.5kgs and 15kgs. Once a child is too heavy for the spring, we recommend that the spring be removed and the straps be adjusted so that the Kanoe is just a few inches from the floor. At this point, children are probably able to climb out of the hammock on their own and can be taught to do so safely.
How large is the Kanoe? How much space is needed to hang it?
The hammock portion of the Kaneo measures approximately 90cm long by 40cm wide. For freedom of movement it needs to be positioned at least 70 cm from any nearby wall or object.
Can my child sleep in the Kanoe?
Yes. Children tend to fall asleep as fast as if they were being rocked in your arms. Children who have a difficult time falling asleep are often quickly calmed and soothed by the gentle three dimensional motion of the Kanoe. The adjustable lower straps on all four corners of the Kanoe allow it to be set at an incline to help comfort colicky babies. Close attention must be paid to children who are strong enough to climb out of the Kanoe by themselves; it is important to lower the Kanoe within a few inches of the ground and teach the child to enter and exit safely.
Is the Kanoe washable?
Yes. An essential design element of the Kanoe is that the hammock can easily be taken apart for washing. Simply unclip the four corners where the support straps meet the hammock, remove the two internal wooden support rods, and wash! The 100% organic cotton Kanoe is extremely durable and colourfast and is completely machine washable.
Can I use the Kanoe outside?
Yes. The 100% organic cotton canvas is very durable and is suitable for indoor and outdoor use. As always, proper installation of the Kanoe as outlined in the installation instructions is essential for the safe use of the product. There is an extension strap, available on request, for looping over a beam or tree limb, or for use with high ceilings.
Where's the mattress?
No mattress is required with the Kanoe. The Kanoe hammock functions like a loose, non-constricting sling, suspending your baby's weight in much the same way that you do when holding or rocking your baby. In fact, one of the reasons that babies love being in a Kanoe is because it feels so similar to being held in a parent's arms. The Kanoe was specifically designed to gently support a baby while conforming to his or her natural shape, without the unnatural and unnecessary interference of a mattress.
For newborns, we highly recommend swaddling while in the Kanoe. Swaddling is soothing to babies because it stimulates the feeling of being in the womb. While swaddled in the Kanoe, your baby will feel warm, secure and comforted. We also suggest using baby sleeping bags, especially after the first 3 to 4 months. They can be enormously helpful in getting babies (and even toddlers) to sleep through the night, since there are no blankets and sheets to get tangled up in or create a suffocation risk.
As with any crib or bassinet, we do not recommend placing any loose padding whatsoever around your baby while she or he is in the Kanoe. Padding is unnecessary and only creates a suffocation hazard. Instead, swaddle your baby with a cozy, temperature-appropriate blanket or sleeping bag and place a little beanie on his or her head. If your baby spits up a lot, you can place a muslin in the Kanoe so that you don't have to wash it every day.
Does the risk of SIDS increase with the Kanoe?
No! The soft-touch floor and walls of the Kanoe are taut, so there is no more risk of SIDS than there is with a regular crib. The risk of SIDS actually decreases with the Kanoe because our hammock does not require a mattress or padding. The risk of SIDS increases with loose pillows, fabric and padding. We strongly recommend against the use of mattresses or extra padding and they are completely unnecessary with the Kanoe, which comfortably suspends a baby's weight naturally.